7th International Symposium on the theme of:
The EU and Japan in the World”
20th of September 2008, Kobe, Japan“Dialogues on the Environmental Protection between
European and Japanese Civil Societies”:“THE ROLE OF NPOs IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION IN THE EU”

Act Today to Save Tomorrow!
The Global Energy & Climate Challenges:
Growth of world energy demand: 50% by 2030;

China & India will account for approx 65% of the expected 50%
rise in demand for energy (inefficiency);

Global race for cheap & secure energy sources which are not themost environmental-friendly ones,

70% of the world´s energy saving potential is in developing
countries? How can global growth, primarily in emerging countries, bereconciled with climate protection● Technology transfer to industrialising countries must be
encourage for increasing energy efficiency, and tackling
global warming

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Act Today to Save Tomorrow!

The Global Energy & Climate Challenges:
How can global growth, primarily in emerging countries, bereconciled with climate protection?
● Mobilise all major economies to reduce emissions a.s.a.p● Technology transfer to industrialising countries must be
encouraged for increasing energy efficiency, and tackling globalwarming;● Strengthen global market mechanisms to reduce emissions, linking
developed & developing regions.

The EU´s respond to Climate change:“20-20-20”

 Binding targets for 2020:
 Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 20% with1990;
 Increase energy efficiency by 20%;
 Increase the use of renewables to 20% of energy
consumption2For achieving the targets (20+20+20):

 National commitment by Member States is needed(credible national strategies); Annual timetables which can be monitored; Right policy instruments for achieving targets; Civil society , including the social partners, need to be
actively involved in energy policy development,scientists etc
 Media

Act Today to Save Tomorrow!

The EU´s challenges in the field of Climate Change, Energy Policyand Enviornmental Protection:
Energy policy: the EU imports 50% of its energy – dependancy: toincrease energy efficiency & diversification of energy sources, supply
countries & supply channels,

Right balance between competitiveness and the tasks of energy &climate policies (binding international agreement on carbon emission
reduction targets)

Carefully planned policies and legal framework (for research,technology & innovation, investments in renewable energies etc) byinvolving of various stakeholders from industry, CSO, MS governments,
scientific community3Better integrating competitiveness,
energy & climate change

keep alll energy
options open

complete single
energy market

international
solution

Better integratingcompetitiveness, energy &climate change policies

stronger EU ext.
energy policy

consistency climate& competitivenesseco-innovations

Interest /lobby groups at the EU level

Increase of number of interests groups operating at the EU level during last
20 years ;The EC is open for interest groups (expertise, information→better
legitimacy, transparency, understanding, good governance)

The European Transparency Initiative (2005):
 Increase the transparency of interest representatives seeking to influence
EU decision making, & upholding standards of consultation,
 Increase of transparency about use of EU funds,
 Ethical rules & standards for public officials

On-line register of interest representatives

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Environmental NGOs/NPOs in the EU

Differences in the field of: Level: Local, regional, national, EU, international
level; Influencing capacity, Membership (Representativiness)
Activity:* participation in policy forming;* environmental awareness rising

Development of environmental groups at
the EU level: Integration
 Development of environmental legislation (the 1st
environmental policy AP in 1972) & increase ofregulations (environment policy become common policyof the EES fixed in the Single European Act) Increased need for environmental groups input in European
decision making process & increase of importance ofthem5

Environmental NPOs in the EU
Why is it useful to involve environmental NPOs (betterlegitimacy, transparency, understanding):
Development & implementation environmental plans, help foraddressing environmental issues;

More successful due to their grassroots – bottom-up nature, better
position for influencing local social bahaviour & consumption
behaviour,To drive research

Organise public awareness rising work

Campaigns (encourage the full implementation of EU
environmental laws & policies in the MSs, lobby for new
environmental proposals, promote EU environmental leadership in
the global political arena etc)

● The European Environmental Bureau (EEB in 1974), Green 10● International environment protection org. (GreenPeace, establishedin Brussels in the end of 80´sRepresentation at the EUlevel

BUSINESSEUROPE - The Confederation of European
Business – voice of European businesses
 Representation: 20 million SMEs & large companies; Members coming from 39 leading national businessfederations in 33 European countries, working together
to achieve growth & competitiveness in Europe
 EU level social partner organisation

6 Lobbying (competitiveness aspect should be taken into account whileworking out energy & climate policies) Different working groups (Waste task force, water, air, soil pollution, ecolabelling WGs etc
 Positions regarding climate change, energy and environmental policies
 Spreading information & know-how: publications: “Four key principles
to ensure a successful international agreement on combating climatechange”, “Energy Efficiency: reconciling economic growth and climate
protection, December 2007” + Communication with media (PR-s) Exchange of best practices, Educational programs (special focus on new MSs & SMEs)

Japan and EU BRT (access to raw materials, climate change & energy,
innovation, strengthening IPR)
Sustainable Development: Cooperate in the field of energy efficiency
 Appropriate policies for diffusion of energy-efficient equipment andfacilities, as well as nuclear energy and renewable energy sources
such as solar and wind power in order to prevent global warming
 effective mechanism for transferring and expanding the use ofenvironmental and energy-saving technology, while protecting IPR,
from Japan and the EU into emerging economies whose GHG
emissions are increasing significantly
 Post-Kyoto Protocol: all carbon-emitting countries must participate,share reasonable and feasible GHG emission reduction targets

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European Economic & Social
Committee - EESCCommission

What is the structure of the EESC?

 It is an assembly of 344 members
from the 27 Member States of the EU.
 Members are appointed for a renewable four-year term.
 They are appointed by the Council of Ministers on thebasis of lists drawn up by national governments.

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An Assembly
divided into three GROUPS Group I – Employers
 Public and private sectors of industry, commerce, finance, etc.
(large companies) Group II – Employees National trade union confederations
 Group III – Various Interests
 Farmers, consumers, the social economy, craftsmen and SMEs,
social and environmental NGOs, the professions…

The EESC’s working bodies

 Six sections…
 Single Market, Production and Consumption
 Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information
Society Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment
 Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and SocialCohesion
 Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship External Relations

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NAT opinions on Environment & ClimateChange

NAT/302

Soil protectionNAT/348 (SDO)

Biennial Progress Report of the EU Sustainable Development
Strategy

NAT/349
emission

Include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas
allowance trading within the Community

NAT/354

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions/Road transport

NAT/362 (SDO) Climate Change and the Lisbon Strategy

NAT/368



NAT/370

Communication on Water Scarcity and Droughts

NAT/384

The link between climate change and agriculture (Exploratory
opinion – French presidency)

NAT/391

Climate Change International Negotiations



NAT/399

Review of the Emission Trading System

NAT/400

Member State effort-sharing/greenhouse gas emission reductionsby 2020



NAT/401

Geological storage of carbon dioxide (CCS)Green Paper on the adaptation to Climate Change

The EESC’s working bodies

 …and four more recent bodies
 The Consultative Commission on Industrial Change– CCMI The Single Market Observatory – SMO
 The Sustainable Development Observatory – SDO
 The Labour Market Observatory - LMO
 The members and the various working bodies are
assisted by a secretariat-general.

10The SDO – to strengthen cooperation
with the other institutions in the field ofclimate change & energy

 Share best practices
 Stimulate debate /through organising conferences,hearings, and ublishing publications
 Analyse Sustainable Development issues from a civilsociety point of view (opinions, reports)

Consultative Commission on Industrial
Change (CCMI): CCMI/045

The impact of European environmental rules onindustrial change , CCMI/029

Sustainable development and industrial change, CCMI/024

Greenhouse gas emissions and industrial change, CCMI/008

Road to Sustainable Production – Progress in
implementing Council Directive 96/61/EC
concerning integrated pollution prevention andcontrol

11 THANK YOU!

DOOMO ARIGATOGOZCIMASU

 Rue Belliard 99, B-1040 Brussels
 http://www.eesc.europa.eu
 Tel. : +32.2.546.90.11
 Fax : +32.2.513.48.93

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